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WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING:

"A butterfly-type goaltender who squares up well to the puck. Has very quick, controlled, smooth movement. Possesses tremendous reflexes with very fast feet and legs. Also good with his blocker and glove hand, despite juggling the puck at times. Rarely caught out of position, he has great concentration and focus. (The Sports Forecaster 1999-2000, p. 164)

"Finley will come to training camp for the 2000-01 season with the expectation that he competes strongly in Nashville. The Predators see him as their future No. 1 for a long time. But, as has happened to many in the same situation, Finley has not played as consistenly in his return to major junior the season after his draft year. He just needs time, said [Nashville] GM David Poile. "Just dealing with the mental aspects of the highs and lows a little better. That comes with experience. He is a highly skilled player who hasn't played as strongly as he did last season, but he is a big part of our future."" (The Hockey News Future Watch 2000)

"Named the OHL playoff MVP after a mediocre season in Barrie. A butterfly goalie, Finley has great reflexes and seems to thrive under pressure. Nashville will definitely be patient with this young phenom and let him develop at his own pace. The Predators' goaltender of the future. (The Sports Forecaster 2000-01, p. 156)

"Finley missed significant time with a groin injury this season - he had played just 22 games as of March 12 - and was also traded. Nashville would like to see a strong finish from him because they want him to play in Milwaukee next season. He will spend much of the off-season in Nashville because they want to make sure he sticks to a conditioning program the team hopes will help prevent any further injury to his groin. Finley also needs to get bigger and stronger. His play has been spotty at times this season, but picked up with the trade from Barrie to Brampton in the Ontario League. (Jeff Legwold, The Hockey News Future Watch 2001)

"Nashville's top pick in 1999 (sixth overall) is ready to embark on a pro career. Finley has been great but not spectacular in the past year or two but the Predators still feel they have a franchise goaltender. His mettle will be tested next year as he starts in the minors. Nashville would like to see him become more consistent and keep his mental game sharp. Has battled through groin injuries and inconsistent play in the junior ranks. Finley is the Preds' goaltender of the future. (The Sports Forecaster 2001-02, p. 162)

"Finley has struggled to recover from off-season groin surgery and other than one training camp practice has done nothing other than to work out on his own all season. Although everyone involved believes he is making steady - albeit slow - progress, he is approaching the point where he will not get any game action this season. Whether he plays at all or not, his development has stalled and created some degree of uncertainty in the franchise's long-term goaltending picture. He is a big question mark. (David Boclair, The Hockey News Future Watch 2002)

"Finley missed the entire 2001-02 season because of a groin injury, which puts his status as Nashville's goaltender of the future in doubt. He is a lanky youngster with great size and reflexes who plays the butterfly style. He should make his pro debut this fall. (The Sports Forecaster 2002-03, p. 156)

"He has shown the same flexibility and determination in his game that he had prior to the groin injury that caused him to miss last season. Instead of simply relying on his ability to stretch out across the crease, however, he has incorporated improved body position, which allows him to make the most of his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. Still respecting the groin injury, Finley has not played back-to-back games, but has made the jump from the ECHL to the AHL smoothly following the trade of Mike Dunham." (David Boclair, The Hockey News Future Watch 2003, p. 29)

TRANSACTIONS:

Selected by Nashville Predators in first round (first Predators pick, sixth overall) of National Hockey League entry draft, June 26, 1999.

Re-signed as restricted free agent by Nashville, July 26, 2004.

Re-signed as restricted free agent by Nashville, July 31, 2005.

Signed as unrestricted free agent by Boston Bruins, July 17, 2006.

ACCOLADES:

Named to Ontario Hockey League All-Rookie First Team, 1997-98.

Named to Canadian Hockey League All-Star Second Team, 1998-99.

Named to Ontario Hockey League All-Star First Team, 1998-99.

Member of Calder Cup champion Milwaukee Admirals, 2003-04.

FIRSTS:

Brian made his much-anticipated National Hockey League debut on New Year's Day, 2003, at the Gaylord Entertainment Center as his Nashville Predators hosted the visiting Colorado Avalanche. Predators starter Tomas Vokoun yielded four goals on just nine shots, and the home squad found themselves trailing 4-1 just 13:19 into the game. Enter Brian Finley, who had ten saves (on thirteen shots) in an eventual 3-7 defeat.

DID YOU KNOW?

On December 13, 2005, Brian's dressed backup for the Nashville Predators' game against Florida was defenseman Jamie Allison. Scheduled starter Chris Mason pulled a groin in the pregame warmups and was unable to compete.

Game logs have been compiled using the best information that I can find; for a detailed list of known concerns, please click here. I am always looking for assistance in making these more accurate, and welcome your help. For the 1983-84 season and prior, one of my key sources was the Hockey Summary Project, a tremendous resource and one of the best data collections on the Internet. In return, I have attempted to make these data better where possible.